I Time-Traveled into a Messed-Up Era – Let Me Just Hug the Biggest Thigh

Xie Jiu’er, a modern archaeologist, transmigrates into the body of a sixteen-year-old girl in a war-torn village during the final days of a century-long conflict. The original host had starved to death a month prior. Upon waking, she finds her mother, Zhou shi, and nine-year-old brother, Xie Wuyang, in a desperate struggle against her Big Uncle, Xie Laoda, who intends to take Wuyang to be eaten as food during the famine. Xie Jiu’er uses her wits and physical aggression to reclaim her brother, forcing her Big Uncle and the rest of the extended family to flee the village, leaving the three of them behind with almost no resources.

Realizing that fleeing with the refugees would lead to starvation, Xie Jiu’er decides to stay in the abandoned village. She discovers that foxtail grass seeds and dog milkweed, previously unknown or feared as poisonous, are edible and nutritious. Using her archaeological knowledge of ancient survival techniques, she teaches her family to harvest these plants, boil salt from a nearby mineral lake, and make charcoal for heating and cooking without smoke. These innovations secure their survival through the harsh winter, transforming their existence from near-starvation to relative stability.

The turning point arrives when Xie Jiu’er follows a trail of blood into the mountains and discovers a critically injured man: Xiao Jinyu, the future founder of the Dazhun Dynasty, who was betrayed and left for dead by his own kin. Recognizing him from the historical scroll she touched during her transmigration, she understands that saving him is her only chance to escape her lowly status. She drags him back to the village and performs emergency wound stitching using a sewing needle, a technique that shocks her superstitious mother but ultimately saves his life.

Xiao Jinyu recovers under Xie Jiu’er’s care. She negotiates a clear transaction: she provides for his needs, and in return, he grants her wealth and status. Their relationship evolves from mutual suspicion to a strategic alliance. Xiao Jinyu, impressed by her shrewdness and resilience, begins to teach Wuyang archery and hunting skills. Together, they hunt wild game, further improving their diet and securing protein. Xie Jiu’er also discovers wild taro patches, ensuring a long-term food supply.

As Xiao Jinyu regains strength, the family faces new threats from cannibalistic raiders roaming the empty village. Xiao Jinyu devises a plan to use Xie Jiu’er as bait while he ambushes the attackers from the shadows, demonstrating his tactical brilliance and willingness to protect his benefactor’s family. The incident solidifies their bond, with Xiao Jinyu acknowledging her value not just as a caregiver but as a capable partner in survival. The story concludes with the group preparing to leave the village as the war draws to a close, positioning Xie Jiu’er to rise from a starving peasant to a prominent figure in the new dynasty, leveraging her knowledge and her connection to the future emperor.